ARATAPU DRAMATIC CLUB

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 217, 29 September 1893, Page 5

ARATAPU DRAMATIC CLUB

This Club which is always so willing to come to the assistance of deserving objects was again to the front on Friday evening-. The Aratapu Library funds have of late not proved sufficient for the maintenance of that institution and the Dramatic Club were ap - pealed to for assistance. This was willingly given and culminated on Friday night after a term of rehearsals rendered all the more necessary because of new members having joined the Club. The Hall was crowded by an appreciative audience. The Aratapu Brass Band played a few tunes outside the deor before the performance began and this helped to gather the people in. The pieces were well mounted and the parts generally very well taken. The first piece staged was “ Grimsbaw, Bagshaw, and Bradshaw.” Mr G. Elliott, as Grimshaw was very good ; he evidently possesses good dramatic ability and is quite an acquisition to the Club. Mr Bassett as Towzer, Mr Jones as Bradshaw, Mr Marcroft as Bagshaw, Miss Corkill as Fanny Sparks and Miss Smith as Emily were the other characters. The piece was well received each character being very creditably sustained, the only drawback being that the voices were not always pitched high enough to be distinctly heard. After a short interval “ "Whitebait at Greenwich. ” was placed on the boards ; Mr W. Bassett appearing as Benjaman Buzzard, Mr .J. A. Rhodes as Glimmer, Mr Jones as John Small, Mrs W. Davidson as Miss Lucretia Buzzard and Miss E. Corkill as Sally Here again there was considerable merit, careful preparation being apparent. All the parts were well taken, but perhaps we may be pardoned if we particularise just sufficiently to give special credit to Mrs Davidson for her rendering of the part ©f Miss Lucretia. The Club is to be congratulated on its successful performance and can rest assured that on its next appearance the welcome extended to it will be all the warmer for the excellence shown. Dancing, as usual, followed the entertainment. The casb taken at the door amounted to close *n £lO and as the expenses are very light the assistance rendered the Library will be very substantial.